Indholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Golf Australia

A LEGEND of Australian golf and the longest serving member of the Australian PGA, Dan Cullen recently passed away after a short illness. He was 101. “It’s a sad day for the PGA and the golf industry, we’ve lost a doyen of the game and the membership,” said Brian Thorburn, chief executive of the PGA. “Dan contributed greatly to the sport of golf as both a club and tournament professional, not to mention his bravery and heroics during World War II. He will be sadly missed and our thoughts and sympathies are with the Cullen family at this time.” Born in Bunbury, Western Australia, in 1914, Cullen held a well-earned reputation as a respected club professional and capable golfer. He joined the PGA in 1932 after completing his traineeship at…

CERTAIN things from 1992 are easy to remember (Shane Warne’s Test debut against India, the West Coast Eagles taking the AFL trophy out of Victoria for the first time, Paul Keating’s first year as prime minister) and others we try to forget (Billy Ray Cyrus’“Achy Breaky Heart” was the year’s biggest song). It was also the year an institution in Australian golf began: the Holden Scramble. This year marks the 25th staging of the annual teams ambrose event that has drawn millions of golfers – literally – to compete. Just as 2016 marks the Scramble’s silver anniversary, it will also be the year when the one millionth ‘Scrambler’ graces the fairways. And the PGA of Australia and Holden will mark the milestone by giving that player and his or her…

EURASIA TOUR IS BEST WAY AHEAD What a breath of fresh air for golf Keith Pelley appears to be. Reading his plan to take the European Tour to even more global locations than it does now makes for an exciting future for the game, especially here in Australia. I think the sooner the European Tour swings through Australia for three or four events every year, the better it will be for the state of tournament golf in this country. It will also provide a more lucrative pathway for our upcoming pros to find their way on the global stage. We’re already seeing it with Nathan Holman (pictured), kicking goals on that Tour as a result of his win at the Australian PGA, which was co-sanctioned with the European Tour. I…

“Jordan Spieth’s coach, Cameron McCormick, recently came to me because he wanted to counter an argument we’ve heard a lot of in recent seasons. That argument says: ‘Jordan Spieth is not that great at any part of the game. He wins because he has heart and holes the putts when it counts.’ “People say that because if you look at Jordan’s traditional statistics for the 2015 season you will find that he was ranked relatively high in all the key areas, yet he won two majors, the FedEx Cup and is currently No.1 in the world. “The problem is that there is a complete disconnect between his performance statistics and his performance. But traditional categories are very poor and very inaccurate measures of performance.” DRIVINGDISTANCE/ACCURACY Traditional stats say: Spieth ranked…

1984 US Open Lost an 18-hole play-off to Fuzzy Zoeller, who recorded the lowest score in a US Open play-off. 1986 Masters Made four straight birdies, but bogeyed the last when a par would have secured a play-off spot. 1986 US Open Held the 54-hole lead, but final-round 75 cost him dearly. 1986 US PGA A final-round 76, coupled with Bob Tway’s miraculous bunker hole-out on the 72nd hole, saw the Shark suffer a third major near-miss in one year. 1987 Masters Larry Mize holed a 140-foot chip on the second play-off hole to end Greg’s dream. 1989 Open Birdied the first play-off hole, which in previous years would have secured the title. In a four-hole play-off, Norman blew up on the last, thinning his third shot out-of-bounds. 1993 US…

We called it the “Tour De Gorse” and it was a golf trip in the grand tradition thereof. Seven days in Scotland, 14 men, one giant party bus. We played four rounds of the world’s best links golf and saw two days of The Open at St Andrews. We even fit in a day at the Ashes Test at Lord’s. It was a grand tour, a Grand Slam of a tour, even. We ate like Vikings, drank like kings, and enjoyed (mostly) really, really good times. Mostly? Yep – 97 percent of the time it was a magnificent tour. Magnificent golf and food and fun and sun. (Well, there wasn’t a lot of sun. It’s Scotland: even in summer it shares more with Lapland than Queensland; and several varieties of…

Highlands Golf Club is nestled at the gateway to the beautiful Southern Highlands in Mittagong, on the old Hume Highway only an hour’s drive from Sydney Airport. With manicured greens and fairways, this course offers a challenge to the experienced golfer as well as enjoyment for the social player or those wishing to build on their golf experience. The course is recognised as the most improved in the Southern Highlands during recent years. Catering for visitors and members alike, it is the friendliest club in the Highlands. Highlands Golf Club caters for social groups all year round and with the extra activities on offer in the Highlands – such as first-class wineries, bushwalks, fine dining restaurants, antique shops and more – the Southern Highlands should be next on your destination…

Situated just two-and-a-half hours north of Melbourne and located on the Murray River at Echuca-Moama, Rich River Golf Club Resort is a destination offering two distinct championship courses featuring immaculately groomed and playable surfaces all year round. Opened in 1979, the par-72 West course has hosted many professional events and we consider it a great test for all levels of ability. The West is a tight layout with tree-lined fairways and elevated greens, making scoring perhaps tougher than on the East course. Redesigned by Peter Thompson in 1998, the par-72 East is more links-like in style and features water that comes in to play on several holes. The back nine is particularly challenging with the last five holes separating a good score from a great score if you can stay…

The Eastern Golf Club has high-quality long- and short-game practice facilities, including a grass-tee driving range, covered practice bays with Titleist NXT range balls and a world-class TaylorMade Performance Centre equipped with Trackman and SAM PuttLab. The Greg Norman-designed 27-hole main course has 18 holes now open, with the remaining nine plus a nine-hole par-3 private course due to be completed midyear. The layout is designed to complement all golfers and abilities with five sets of tees. In addition to golf, there are four championship-sized tennis courts, bush walking trails, a gymnasium and two games rooms for kids and adults to enjoy. The clubhouse consists of a large private members lounge, dining room and function rooms.Yering Gorge Cottages by The Eastern Golf Club is the club’s private on-site accommodation and…

Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort is Australia’s largest public-access golf resort, boasting stunning surrounds alongside the majestic Murray River. It has 45 holes of some the finest golf in Australia, winning rave reviews for its inspired design of the club’s three courses, their immaculate condition and the extraordinary range of play for novices, casual and championship players. The Murray course is right beside its namesake river, and meanders through towering river gums and sandy river flats. This course favours the straight hitter, as many billabongs and lagoons are eagerly awaiting wayward balls. Its pedigree is impeccable, as it was designed by Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge and is ranked in the Top-100. Named for Lake Mulwala, the Lake course overlooks this beautiful waterway.You’ll find strategically placed lakes, undulating greens, 56…

It’s been a mighty transformation for the championship course at RACV Royal Pines Resort these past couple of years, a nine-by-nine renovation of a golf course that was formerly little more than a pleasant walk on a flat, parkland site next to the Nerang River and in the shadows of an enviable resort complex. The resort is still just as desirable, however now the 27-hole golf course is equally so, as witnessed at the Australian PGA Championship last December and, more recently, the RACV Ladies Masters last month What was previously a course characterised by large, flat and relatively open greens – with bunkers to match – now has more firepower and architectural nuances. Graham Marsh undertook the job, one of the more high-responsibility projects in Australian golf in recent…

IT’S not hard to see why Noosa Springs Resort has become one of Queensland’s most popular golf destinations since it opened for play in 1999. The Sunshine Coast course is laid out on 50 hectares of bushland on the north shore of beautiful Lake Weyba and is just five minutes’ drive from the cosmopolitan hub of the Sunshine Coast – Hastings Street at Noosa Heads. The Graham Papworth-designed par-72 course takes you on a journey across gently rolling terrain, through rainforest pockets, along edges of lakes and through Bloodwood forests before breaking out into open plains bordered by imposing stands of melaleuca. At 6,189 metres from the championship markers, Noosa Springs is far from being a monster. But it is a layout that demands attention to strategy and correct club…

With utmost respect to Benjamin Franklin, there are three certainties in life: death, taxes and upsets at the World Golf Championships–Dell Match Play. Golf’s new ‘Big Four’ of Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and Rickie Fowler will headline the field and fans, sponsors and organisers alike will be hoping the four titans lock horns as the tournament unfolds from March 23 to 27. However, history indicates simply surviving long enough to see the best players still perched on the skinniest branches of the matchplay tree is the toughest obstacle of the week. The revised ‘pool’ format introduced at last year’s event is designed to shield the top players like we protect koalas. It guarantees every player contests a minimum of three matches, avoiding the litany of embarrassing early exits…

‘THE DATA LETS ME CHART THE PERFORMANCE TRAITS OF ALL GOLFERS AND LETS ME SIMULATE THEIR SHOTS. IT IS A LOT OF FUN.’ Professor Mark Broadie has been a golfer for most of his life and like most club golfers, there are parts of the game he still cannot fathom. Unlike most club golfers, however, he has a particular set of skills that allow him to analyse our sport and his game in microscopic detail. “I am an academic professor at Columbia Business School with a lot of experience in using applied mathematics to analyse real-world problems,” he explains. “I began working in golf because I love the game, I knew my training could be used to analyse it and I had a few simple questions that I did not…

WHAT OUR TESTER SAID: “I definitely hit the ball ten to 15 metres further – it’s almost like the clubhead generated topspin that helped the ball go further.” MODEL AND SHAFT PLAYED: Callaway XR 16 9° driver, fitted with a stiff-flex graphite shaft. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: This seems like a decent driver. I own a Callaway Big Bertha Alpha 815 driver and my first notion is that this model feels quite different. I don’t particularly like the crown markings and patterns, while the colour scheme doesn’t grab me, either. VERDICT: The Callaway XR 16 driver performs better than it looks! The ball flight was higher than mine usually is, which was good as it delivered a trajectory I really liked. I definitely hit the ball ten to 15 metres further –…

Port Stephens is known for its wonderful beaches. There are 26 of them … some are sheltered within the bay, which is great for families, while the ocean beaches have a reputation for their superb surfing conditions. This beautiful port, which is bigger than Sydney Harbour, certainly does offer an idyllic beach getaway mixed with natural and culinary attractions … at least that’s what I found. More than 150 bottlenose dolphins call the Port home and there are plenty of tours departing from Nelson Bay that will get you up close. In winter, you might even spot a whale or two as they head north on their annual migration. If you love seafood you will love this part of the world too. Apart from the great fishing – where you…

Nestled just outside the Central Queensland coastal town of Yeppoon, Capricorn Resort and the championship golf course are the perfect location for the avid golfer to relax and play golf on a spectacular course. The layout was designed by world-renowned American golf architect Karl Litten and opened in 1992 to rave reviews, with beautiful landscapes and a litany of memorable holes. The course has to be on every golfer’s ‘bucket list’. The layout winds through the lush native bushland and around the plentiful wetlands filled with local wildlife.With a total of 6,542 metres from the back tees, the course is a true test of golf but there are four sets of tees made to suit all abilities. The resort has two practice putting greens and a full-length driving range, and…

Located just five minutes from the river town of Swan Hill, Murray Downs Golf & Country Club will be sure to please you both on and off the course. Providing you with great clubhouse facilities, including a bistro and café, you won’t beat the country hospitality and pleasure of playing this impressive course. Ideal for your next group or individual golf holiday, the award-winning course – a previous winner of Victorian PGA Course of the Year and consistently voted among the top resort courses across Australia – Murray Downs has the facilities to match its reputation. The par-72 layout is a striking contrast to the Mallee plains that surround it. With river gums in the background, the course has some great signature holes, including the 5th with a long water…

Located just over an hour’s drive from Sydney’s CBD, Riverside Oaks Golf Resort is set on 238 hectares of natural bushland bordering the Hawkesbury River. Riverside Oaks boasts Sydney’s only 36-hole golf resort with two championship courses. Both featured in Golf Australia’s Top-100 Public Access Courses ranking in 2015, while this year the Bungool course earned 54th spot in the overall ranking of Australia’s Top-100 Courses. Enjoy a weekend away in our beautiful new resort accommodation. We offer well-appointed rooms with the option of twin-share or king bed configurations overlooking the tranquil golf course and surrounding bushland. Why not test your skills on our resort course “Gangurru” and the tournament course “Bungool”? Riverside Oaks has everything you need for a great weekend of golf all at the one resort. The…

Set on the northern headland of Torquay, Peppers The Sands Resort offers an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Stuart Appleby. This beachfront property spans from White’s Beach to Point Impossible, and offers pristine views of the ocean and natural wetlands. The layout features a vast array of bunkers throughout and a particularly strong back nine. The uphill par-4 11th hole is one of the toughest two-shotters around as it climbs to an angled green benched into a hillside. The mammoth carry required from the back tee at the par-5 16th is fun to attempt even if you think you won’t make it across the hazard, while several more docile teeing grounds sit further along the hole. All air-conditioned rooms at The Sands Torquay feature a work desk and a…

This table compares the average Tour pro and average 90-shooter. Average leave is the distance the approach shot finishes from the hole as a percentage of the shot distance, so a 100-yard shot that ends five yards from the pin is five percent leave. If a golfer hits five approaches with leaves of two, three, six, seven and 25 percent, the middle value (six percent) is the average leave. HOW TO SAVE TEN SHOTS To lower your score by ten shots requires, on average, a 2.8-stroke improvement in driving, 3.9 strokes in approach play, 1.9 strokes in short-game shots and a 1.3-stroke improvement in putting. SCORE FROM TEE This data shows how the average scores of professional golfers and 90-shooters differ as the distance of the hole increases. Unsurprisingly, the…

Great white sharks are hugely misunderstood. Ever since Steven Spielberg’s ’70s classic, they have been perceived as merciless, bloodthirsty killers. And while it’s true you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of one, you are statistically more likely to die as a result of falling out of bed than from a shark attack. Sharks play a pivotal role in maintaining the oceanic food chain. Without them, the whole ecosystem would collapse. The world’s second most famous great white, Greg Norman, gets an equally unfair rap. Search any mean-spirited list of golf’s ‘top-ten chokers’ and you will find Norman at the top. He is widely regarded as the greatest golfer to win only two majors, having passed up chances to win four or five times as many. It’s undeniable…

There are thousands of tips out there to help you play better – but some work better than others. We’ve all been given bits of advice that have helped us improve, nuggets of wisdom that have stayed with us, always there to fall back on when the game goes awry. And that got us thinking … what’s the best tip the world’s best golfers have ever had? This is what they said. Tiger Woods When I was young, maybe six or seven, I’d play on the Navy golf course with my pop. My dad would say: “OK, where do you want to hit the ball?” I’d pick a spot and say I want to hit it there. He’d shrug and say, “Fine, then figure out how to do it.” He…

SCOTLAND’S south-west boasts an embarrassment of golf riches. There are more than 100 courses to choose from, making it one of the most popular regions for golf visitors. There are the celebrated famous names like Royal Troon, Turnberry and Prestwick and the remote Machrihanish. They stand alongside lesser-known gems and those layouts which have hosted Open Championship qualifiers and big national tournaments. Off the course, the links to poet Robert Burns are everywhere, as are the chances to sample some fine whisky, and as you make your way from one course to another the beautiful scenery can become mesmerising. Golf Australia deputy editor Steve Keipert tested his game at four of the Ayrshire Coast’s most famous layouts, while editor Brendan James went in search of some hidden gems and treasured…

Cobram Barooga Golf Club is a course that keeps players on their toes as they weave through the various hazards scattered across beautiful surrounds. The club offers the best of old and new for serious and novice golfers. The original 18-hole ‘Old’ course was constructed in 1925 and is the more famous of the two 18-hole courses. At 6,186 metres, its clever design and narrow tree-lined fairways provide a good test of skill for any player. The West course offers wider fairways, larger greens and additional slopes that provide natural framing for tee shots. At 6,287 metres, it is a slightly longer layout and blends resort golf with modern links style. Tee-times are available seven days a week, while the clubhouse has been totally renovated with a fabulous choice of…

Stay and play at Australia’s best golf resort, Noosa Springs. This pristine 18-hole championship course offers a challenging and memorable golf experience right in the heart of Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. The stunning par-72, 6,180-metre championship course was built to international standards and has hosted PGA qualifying events. Undulating fairways are landscaped into native bush alongside spring-fed lakes teeming with wildlife. Our flexible, affordable stay-and-play packages are great value for the serious golfer looking for a luxury golf retreat just minutes’ drive from the main tourist hub. Everything is on-site: spacious apartments, award-winning dining, aqua day spa, heated swimming pool, fitness centre, tennis courts and nature trails. Improve your golf swing on Noosa’s only practice range (floodlit Wednesday to Saturday evenings), take a lesson with our AAA-rated Australian PGA…

Nestled in the idyllic seaside town of the same name, South West Rocks Country Club boasts a picturesque 18-hole golf course worthy of any player. Whether you’re off 4 or 24 you will enjoy the well designed and interesting layout. The course is a par-72 measuring 5,953 metres that winds its way around tree-lined fairways. Most of the 18 holes are straightforward, however accuracy off the tee is rewarded as the treelines can make an escape to the green difficult. The course offers a good variety of holes, for example our 15th (Fred’s Hole) is a 383-metre par-4 with a water carry for your second (or third) shot. The bentgrass greens are in fantastic shape all year round, as are the fairways. It truly is a beautiful course to play.…

Thurgoona Country Club Resort offers golfers a mature championship golf course located only ten minutes from Albury, an easy three-hour drive from Melbourne and a 60-minute flight from Sydney. Designed by Peter Thomson and Mike Wolveridge, Thurgoona presents a fair challenge to golfers of all abilities. Beautifully covered Santa Ana couch fairways invite your approach to large bentgrass greens with subtle slopes, strategically placed bunkers and enough water to make even the most experienced golfer think twice. The 18-hole championship course plays to 6,372 metres with a par and ACR of 72 for men and 5,480 metres, par 74 and ACR 75 for ladies. Thurgoona is a semi-private facility offering great membership packages as well as lots of availability for visitors and stay-and-play groups. Regular competitions are held on Wednesdays,…